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Compost drums are a form of turning unit, a composting system that can produce finished compost faster than compost heaps and holding units. As an additional advantage, compost drums require minimal effort to use and allow gardeners with limited time or mobility to produce their own compost. Unlike compost heaps or holding units, for best results, you need to add all the ingredients to your compost drum at once. To achieve finished compost in the short time period promised by many compost drum manufacturers, you also need to pay close attention to the balance of ingredients. (See References 1, page 11)

1

Collect materials for composting in a 5-gallon bucket with a lid that seals tightly enough to exclude pests. As you add food wastes, cover them with a layer of sawdust or another "brown" material to reduce odors. Brown materials include any dry, dead plant matter, such as autumn leaves, paper or straw. (See References 1, page 12)

2

Maintain a balance of about one part sawdust to one part green materials that you add. Green materials include fresh, moist materials like food scraps, grass clippings and coffee grounds. If you use leaves, paper or straw in place of sawdust, add about two parts for every one part green materials. Because sawdust contains much higher amounts of carbon than the other materials, you need less of it. (See References 2, page 156) When you use a compost drum, err on the side of providing too many greens rather than too many browns. The microbes will need the nitrogen provided by green materials to produce compost quickly. (See References 2, page 161)

3

Transfer the collected materials into your compost drum once you have enough to nearly fill it to the recommended level. If you are using a homemade drum or don't know the recommended level, fill the drum three-quarters full. It's important to leave space inside the drum so that the compost will mix when turned. (See References 1, page 12)

4

Close and turn the drum to mix the compost. Check the moisture level. Compost microbes need water in order to survive, but too much water cuts off their oxygen supply. A handful of mixed compost, squeezed in your hand, should produce no more than a few drops of water. If the compost feels too dry, add water. If it feels too wet, add some extra leaves or paper shreds to soak up the moisture. (See References 1, pages 7-8)

5

Turn the compost drum every few days to keep the compost well mixed and aerated. Continue checking the moisture level regularly, adding water or dried materials as needed to keep the compost moist but not overly wet. When ready for use, your compost will look dark and have a pleasant, earthy odor. Aside from woody pieces, you should not be able to identify the original materials in the compost. In a compost drum, finished compost takes about two months (see References 1, page 11).

Things You Will Need

5-gallon plastic bucket with lid

Sawdust

Compost drum

Hose or watering can

Tips

The odor and temperature of your compost will tell you how it's working and help you to troubleshoot problems. A rotten-egg smell means that your compost contains too much water. An ammonia smell means that it contains too much nitrogen. In both cases, adding browns will restore the correct balance.

In a compost drum, your compost should heat up and you should feel the warmth radiating from the compost after turning it. If your compost doesn't heat up, you either need to add more water or more nitrogen in the form of greens like food scraps and yard trimmings. (See References 3, page 2)